THE CIVIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6315, 16 September 1907, Page 8

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.") , Sir,—ln a discussion in the House a short while back one member made a great point of. the fact tnat there are men in the Lands and Survey xn,-p**rv ment who are getting only .£230 a year after about twenty-fiv«y years' service. Now, it seems to me that if the classification scheme is to be of any value (as far as the country is concerned) it should be based principally on ability and zeal, and not on mere length *ff service. I know. now of men who have over twenty years' service, and who know little more than when they firstjoined, and who do only as much work] as they are actually forced to. .Yet it: seems men of this class are to* have seniority to others who have better, qualifications, and who have exercised j zeal in making themselves as useful as I possible in their branch of the service.! I contend it is far better for the State! (and, for the . officers themselves) if pro- j motion is by merit; and il the new Bill | is to make promotion am the depart- \ ments dependent solely or primarily on | length of service, then the measure will be a wholly - retrograde step. It cer-1 tainly will not encourage officers to become efficient or be zealous in the per-1 formance of their work, for they will .know the loafer gets on equally as fast.—l am, etc.* N.Z. September 14th.